Straw rack



C. SENZEK STRAW RACK July 10, 1934.

Filed July 28, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 @Trae/vir Patented July l0, 1934 Urren s'm'rssy f i 1,665,162A

PATENT oFFicE 1,965,782 STRAW RACK Charles Senzek, Sauk Rapids, Minn. Application July 28, 1933, serial No. 682,591

s claims. V (C1. 13o- 24) My invention relates to improvements in straw racks or straw bottoms for grain separators and the main object is to provide an all metal rack in a simple, efficient and very durable form.

Another object is to provide a straw rack having round pointed and square faced metal teeth or tips designed to positively grip and engage the straw and distribute it evenly over the rack. 1

A further object is to provide a straw rack of this kind having cross slats of novel form and construction each made up of a single strip or length of sheet metal bent longitudinally on itself to provide an inclined portion and a horizontal blast guard portion or base so arranged a and mounted as to separate the straw from the grain more effectively and reduce the amount of short straw and chaff falling through the rack.

A further object is to provide a straw rack in which the aforesaid metal teeth and slats are connected and joined in a rigid metal frame designed to prevent all rattling and wear and to securely hold the parts in their proper positions.

With the above and other objects in view the invention resides in the novel construction and arrangement of parts as hereinafter set forth and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure l is a plan view of a rack constructed in accordance with my invention and showing a part of the rack reciprocating mechanism.

Figure 2 is a side view of the structure shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmental section along the line 3--3 in Figure 2, showing one side rail of the rack.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmental section along the line 4-4 in Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a fragmental section along the line 5-5 in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is an enlarged perspective view of one.

of the teeth or tips alone.

Referring now with more particularity to the drawings and in making up the form of rack shown therein I provide a pair ofv risers 7 set up in spaced parallel relationship and each made` of sheet metal of inverted U-shaped cross section including the spaced Vertical sides 8 and rounded bights or upper edges 9. A plurality of teeth or tips 10 are secured end to end along the upper margins 9 of the risers 7 and as shown in Figure 6 these teeth are bent up in inverted U-shaped form of sheet metal whereby to provide spaced Ylegs 11 adapted to straddle the riser sides 8 to which they are secured by rivets 12 passed through apertures 13 in said legs. The bights or upper edges 14 of the teeth 10 are rounded in form and are inclined from end to end relative .to the undersides of the legs 11 and the plane of `the riser 7 whereby one end 15 of said bights faced ltooth formation for a purpose to be described. At the ends 15 the teeth are cut off at right angles to the plane of the bend or bight 14 as indicated at 18 whereby the inner curvature of the teeth at these points will closely follow that of the outer sides of the riser bights 9 and form a tight joint at these points as will be understood.

The rack also includes a plurality of cross slats 19 each made up or a single length of flat strip metal bent along a longitudinal line to form a base portion 2O and an inclined agitating portion 21 disposed at an acute angle relative to said base. The sides 8 of the risers 7 are slotted and notched out near their lower margins at 22 tol receive the slats 19 as shown in Figure 5 whereby the slats are extended laterally of the risers in parallel spaced relationship. Sills 23 also of inverted U-shape in cross section and made of metal are mounted upward between the lower ends of the sides 8 of the riser and these sills have their rounded bights 24 flattened and pressed downward at spaced intervals to provide seats 25 on which the base portions 20 of the slats 19 rest. The risers 7 and sills 23 are then secured together by rivets 26 passed through the lower margins of the riser sides 8 and the sides 27 of the sills. The width of the base portions 20'of the slats 19 is considerably less than that of the upper portions 21 and these upper portions thus extend at their free margins beyond the base portions clearly evident in Figure 5. The arrangement is such that the spaces between the slats at their upper sides are considerably greater than the spaces between their lower sides and the short straws and heavier chaff will thus be to` a great extent restricted from passing down between the slats as will be understood while the passage of the grain will in no way be impeded.

At their outer ends the slats 19 are riveted at 28 to channel shaped side rails 29 which are in turn secured together medially and at their ends by frame brace members or angles 30 riveted at 31 to the side rails and extended laterally therebetween beneath the sills 23. The lower margins of the sill sides 27 are notched at 32 to receive the members 30 and the frame brace members, risers 7 and sills 23 are all further rigidly connected by bolts 33 passed downwardly through apertures 34, 35 and 36 in the bights 9 and 24 of the riser and sill and the horizontal webs 37 of the members 30 respectively. Sleeves 38 are placed on the bolts between the bights 9 and 24 and shorter sleeves 39 between the bights 24 and webs 37 and the nuts 40 beneath the webs 37 are then drawn up tight rigidly securing the parts together. Apertures 41 in the bights of the teeth 10 over the bolts 33 permit the placing of these bolts down through the apertures 34, 35 and 36 as described. The slats 19 are further braced to gether by spaced tie strips or straps 42 extended longitudinally along beneath the slats and secured to the base portions 20 thereof by rivets 43. The ends of the risers 7 are preferably closed by flanged plates 44 secured therein by rivets 45 to prevent straw and grain from working into these parts.

The rack may be mounted for reciprocation in the grain separator in any conventional manner, the reciprocation being carried out, for example, by a crank A operated by wheel B and journaled at C to a bearing D beneath the side rail 29 as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The opposite end of the rack may be supported by pivoted. hanger links E, the arrangement of course being such that the rack will be reciprocated as the wheel B rotates. As the rack is reciprocated the teeth 10 engage and agitate the straw whereby the grain falls down through the slats 19 and the straw is carried and moved forward oif the rack to the discharge blower. Basically the operation of my rack is substantially the same as all present racks the only difference being in the improvement afforded by the nature of my teeth and slats. These teeth having the rounded points 16 and square faces 17 as described more efciently agit-ate and move the straw and of course being made of metal do not become worn and require replacement as do the wooden risers and teeth now employed. By this increased agitation and the evenness with which the straw is distributed by the teeth 10 the grain is threshed from the straw more efficiently and rapidly and without breaking the straw into short pieces and hence the grain passing through the slats 19 is comparatively clean. Whatever short straw or chaff does fall between the slats is in the most part caught by the acute angle and recess formed between the base portions 20 and angular portions 21 of the slats and when dislodged by the return movement of the rack is blown upward and clear by the air blown through the slats in usual manner. The structure as a whole is extremely sturdy and rigid so that no rattling and Wear caused by looseness can occur. The rack illustrated and described is for purposes of exemplication only and it is evident that my improved teeth and slats and their mounting can be arranged in any desired form of frame to t grain separators of all kinds. For instance the teeth 10 may be mounted on the usual wooden riser to replace the worn teeth thereon and the slats 19 may also replace slats in any present rack. Further details of the utility advantages and other applications of my invention will be understood by those skilled in the art without further description herein.

While I have herein set forth a certain preferred embodiment of my invention it is understood that I may vary therefrom in minor structural details so as best to construct a practical device for the purposes intended, not departing from the spirit of th-e invention and within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a device of the kind described, a frame, risers mounted in the frame, teeth made of metal bent up in an inverted U-shape and set astraddle the risers, and slats extended laterally through the risers.

2. In a device of the kind described, a frame, risers mounted in the frame, teeth made of metal bent up in an inverted U-shape and set astraddle the risers, and slats extended laterally through the risers, the said slats being made of metal strips bent along a longitudinal line to form horizontal base portions and inclined upper portions.

3. In a device of the kind described, a frame, risers mounted in the frame, a plurality of straw teeth mounted on the risers, the said teeth being of inverted U-shaped cross section including sides straddling the risers and upwardly projecting round straw engaging points, and slats mounted in the frame through the said risers.

4. In a device of the kind described, a frame, risers of inverted U-shaped cross section mounted in the frame, a plurality of straw teeth mounted on the upper margins of the risers, the said teeth being also of inverted U-shaped cross section having rounded bight portions extended at an angle to the risers and spaced legs set astraddle and secured to the sides of the risers, one end of the teeth being extended and at right angles to the longitudinal axes of the risers, spaced slats extended laterally across the frame through the said risers.

5. In a device of the kind described, a rack frame, risers extended longitudinally through the frame and being of inverted U-shaped cross section with rounded bights and spaced vertical sides, the said sides having spaced notches and Slots, a plurality of angular straw teeth of inverted U-shaped cross section mounted along the upper margins of the risers, and a plurality of slats mounted laterally across the frame and passed through the said notches and slots in the riser sides.

- 6, In a device of the kind described, a rack frame, risers extended longitudinally through the frame and being of inverted U-shaped cross section with rounded bights and spaced Vertical sides, the said sides having spaced notches and slots, a plurality of angular straw teeth of inverted U-shaped cross section mounted along the upper margins of the risers, and a plurality of slats mounted laterally across the frame and passed through the said notches and slots in the riser sides, the said slats including narrow horizontal base portions and inclined relatively wide upper portions extended at an acute angle to the base portions, sills mounted in the risers adjacent the undersides thereof, the said sills being of inverted U-shaped cross section having rounded bights and spaced sides, the said bights being flattened at spaced points to form seats for the base portions of the slats.

7. A tooth for grain separator straw racks made of sheet metal bent up in inverted U-shaped form including a rounded bight and spaced parallel mounting legs, the said bight being extended and formed at an angle relative to the lower margins of the legs and the tooth having one end cut oi square at right angles to said lower margins of the legs.

8. In a straw rack, a riser, teeth mounted on the riser, a plurality of slats mounted through the riser at right angles thereto, the said slats being made of sheet metal strips bent along longitudinal lines to form narrow horizontal base portions and relatively wide upper portions extended at an acute angle relative to the said base portions. CHARLES SENZEK. 

